Antibiotic substance and process for its preparation

ABSTRACT

A novel antibiotic substance, named &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Quintomycin&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; which belongs to the aminocyclitol group and which is produced by a novel soil ray fungus, Streptomyces lividus or its mutant, and a process for recovering such antibiotic.

United States Patent [191 Munakata et a].

ANTIBIOTIC SUBSTANCE AND PROCESS FOR ITS PREPARATION Inventors: Katsura Munakata, Nagoya;

Takeshi Oda, Tokyo; Toshito Mori, Tokyo; Hisakatu lto, Tokyo, all of Japan Assignee: Kowa Company, Ltd., Nagoya,

Japan Filed: Mar. 25, 1974 Appl. No.1 454,606

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 200,524, Nov. l9, 197i, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 737,333, June 17, 1968, abandoned.

Foreign Application Priority Data June 2|, 1967 Japan 42-39296 June 15, 1968 Japan 43-40863 June 24, 1975 U.S. Cl. 195/80 R; 195/80 Int. Cl ClZd 9/00 Field of Search 195/80 R References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l2/1959 Frohardt et al. l95/80 R Primary Examiner-A. Louis Monacell Assistant Examiner--Robert .l. Warden Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sherman & Shalloway [57] ABSTRACT PATENTEDJUN24 ms 3.891.506

oumrowcm A F l G. I

4000 cw'ao'oo 2000 I000 I000 M00 1200 :0'00 3'00 600 2 QUINTOMYCINB 4.? 6 .QAJMLWM F 4000 cwao'oo 2000 I000 I600 I400 I200 I000 e00 600 FIG 3 QUINTOMYCIN 0 4000 CM" 3000 2000 I000 I600 I400 I200 I000 000 600 ANTIBIOTIC SUBSTANCE AND PROCESS FOR ITS PREPARATION This application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 200,524, filed Nov. I9, 1971, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 737,333 filed June 17, 1968 now abandoned.

This invention relates to an antibiotic substance, Quintomycin" which belongs to the aminocyclitol group and which is produced by a novel soil ray fungus, Streptomyces lividus or its mutant, and to a process for recovering it.

The above new fungus was deposited under the name of No. 2230-N, strain" at Fermentation Laboratory of Technical Institute, 2, 5, 4-chome, lnage-Higashi, Chiba-shi, Japan, with the deposit number of No. 50 FLTl. The same fungus was later deposited under the name of Streptomyces Iividus at American Type Culture Collection, with the deposit number of ATCC 21178.

The antibiotic substance was first termed N0. 2230 substance", and later called Quintomycin. It includes a novel antibiotic substance Quintomycin-A" expressed by the chemical name O-a-D-mannopyranosyK l 4), a-L-2, 6-diamino-2, 6-dideoxyidopyranosyl( l 3 B-D-ribofuranosyH l O-[a-D-Z-amino-Z-deoxyglucopyranosyl(l 4)], l,3-diamino-l,2,3- trideoxymyoinositol, corresponding to the structural formula and the empirical formula C H N O an Rf-value of 55 cu oa H H H and the empirical formula C H N O an Rf-value of 0.50, the pentahydrochloride of which has a specific optical rotation [01],, of +50, and a decomposition point of to C and showing the infrared spectram as in the attached drawing, FIG. 2 and a novel antibiotic substance Quintomycin-D expressed by the chemical name O-a-L2,6-diamino-2,6-dideoxyidopyranosyK 1 3 B-D-ribofuranosyK l 5), O-[a- D-2-amino-2,3-dideoxy-glucopyranosyl(l 4)] 1,3- diamino-l,2,3-trideoxy-myoinositol, corresponding to the structural formula H 0 H $0 H HOH C O H NH H H OH H HO [1 and the empirical formula C, H N O and Rf-value of 5 0.75, the pentahydrochloride of which has a specific optical rotation [0:1 of 36 and a decomposition point of 198 to 208C and showing the infrared spectrum as shown in the attached drawing, HO. 3, and also Quinomycin-C which is regarded as a synonym for a known antibiotic substance paromomycin" produced by Streptomyces rimosus forma paromomycinus. Other three antibiotic substances are novel substances.

The principal ingredients of the antibiotic substance Quintomycin of the present invention are novel antibiotic substances, Quintomycin-B and Quintomycin-A. The Quintomycin of the invention, when containing these substances, especially Quintomycin-B, exhibits a high biological activity against Pseudomonas aeruginasa, and is exceedingly low in toxicity against warmbloodcd animals. Known antibiotic substances having a high biological activity against the above bacterium are not satisfactory with respect of toxicity. The Streptomyces Iividus of the present invention has the following microbiological properties.

I. Morphology Streptomyces lividus n.s.p. first exhibits the growth of a light gray on synthetic media, which gradually becomes dark blue to black. The production of a soluble pigment is none, or in a rare substance, a soluble pigment of light rose or raspberry is formed. Aerial hyphae are short and irregularly branched in a single form. The formed sporophores are generally straight but, in a rare instance, of flexious loops (whorls or spirals are not formed). Three to ten spores occur at the end of a sporophore. The structure of the spore surface as observed by an electronmicroscope is oval or ellipsoidal (0.2 X 0.3 0.5 a).

[ll] Cultural characteristics on various media Glucose-asparagine agar Calcium malate agar (Organic media) good, wrinkled moist yellowlsh brown or black scant, light gray none good. light gray to dark blue or black velvety, white or light 8) none moderate, dark blue or dark gray, slightly penetrating into medium Nutrient agar Starch agar Potato glucose agar A: scant, light gray S: none, rarely light rose Peptone glucose agar good, dark blue or dark B y A: scant, white to gray S: brick red Tyrosine agar G: moderate. pale brown to dark gray A: slightly white S: none or pale brown Gelatin stab G: good. white or light gray A: none S: none -Continued lll] Cultural characteristics on various media Litmus milk 0: moderate. cream on surface A: none S: no change Note 1 G: Growth. A: Aerial mycelium. S: Soluble pigment [Ill] Biochemical properties Reaction Chromogenic formation negative Tyrosinase negative Nitrate reduction positive Cellulose decomposition negative Milk coagulation negative Milk peptonization positive Hydrolysis of starch Gelatin liquefaction positive (strong) positive (considerable) Reference to the classification given in Bergeys Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 7th Ed. indicates that the new fungus of the present invention resembles S. gendanensis (S.ged.) in the following respects: Psychrophilic to mesophilic growth; no soluble pigment produced in organic media; proteolytic action strong; growth on synthetic media dark to black to almost bluish black; and a serial mycelium white to gray. S. ged. in a potato medium, however, shows a creamcolored to brownish growth, and produces no aerial mycelium and soluble pigment, while S. lividus (S. liv.) exhibits a dark gray or grayish black growth with a scant aerial mycelium and does not usually produce a soluble pigment although exhibiting a light rose color in a rare instance. On a starch medium, S. ged. exhibits a yellow to cream colored growth, and S. liv. exhibits a light gray to dark blue or black growth. S. ged. proves to be negative in milk peptonization and nitrate reduction, while S. liv. proves to be positive in both.

As strain which exhibit a psychrophilic to mesophilic growth and produce no soluble pigment in organic media, there are S. griseolus (S. gris.) which exhibits a mouse-gray growth on synthetic media, produces a white to gray aerial mycelium, and forms straight sporophores, and S. faciculus which forms broom shaped sporophores. Comparison of these two strains with the S. liv. of the invention has revealed the following. In a nutrient agar, S. gris. exhibits a brownish growth with a smooth surface, produces a deep dull gray aerium mycelium, and produces no soluble pigment, while S. Iii'. exhibits a wrinkled moist yellowish brown growth and produces no soluble pigment with hardly any aerial mycelium. In a potato medium, S. gris. exhibits a cream-colored to black growth, forms an aerial mycelium of white greenish tinge and produces a brown to black soluble pigment, while S. liv. exhibits a dark gray or grayish black growth, forms a scant aerial mycelium. and produces no soluble pigment although exhibiting a light rose color in a rare instance. In gelatin, S. gris. gives rise to a yellowish flaky pellicle and sediment, and forms a white aerial mycelium and faint brown medium, while S. Iiv. exhibits a white or light gray growth, but produces no aerial mycelium and soluble pigment. In milk, S. gris. exhibits an abundant pink pellicle growth and slow coagulating, while S. Iiv. grows in cream on surface and does not coagulate.

S. fasciculus (S. fast.) exhibits a good growth lichenoid and forms an aerial mycelium which is colorless, covered with dark gray, powdery or velvety, while S. Iiv. exhibits a light gray to dark blue or black growth, and forms a white or white gray aerial mycelium which is short and not so abundunt. In a milk medium, S. fasc. proves to be positive both in coagulation and peptonization and exhibits a good growth on cellulose, while S. lr'v. proves to be positive only in peptonization in milk medium, and does not grow on a cellulose medium.

With reference to S. A. Waksman, The Actinomycetes", Vol. 2, comparison of characteristic properties of various series of Streptomyces will indicate that there is nothing which S. Iiv. belongs to. S. intermedius, S. parvullus, S. craterifer, (S. crat.) and S. cellulosae belonging to the series of Cinereus, however, might be regarded as being similar to S. Iiv. in that the spiral formation is or melanin is and an aerial mycelium is white to gray.

In a nutrient agar, S. can. exhibits a colorless growth, and in a starch agar, it exhibits a spreading, thin and colorless growth and forms no aerial mycelium. In a po tato medium, S. crat. exhibits a cream-colored growth and forms a white to mouse-gray aerial mycelium. 0n the other hand, S. lzv. exhibits a good growth of wrinkled moist yellowish brown in a nutrient agar; exhibits a good growth of light gray to dark blue or black, and forms a velvety, white or light gray aerial mycelium in a starch agar; and exhibits a drak gray growth in a potato medium.

S. cellulosae grows well on cellulose and rapidly coagulates milk, and exhibits a yellow or lemon-yellow growth in a synthetic media. These are the points that differentiate it from S. Iiv.

S. parvullus differs from S. liv. in that it forms sporophores twisting into long closed spirals, exhibits a yellow growth in synthetic media, produces a yellow soluble pigment in gelatin. produces a brown soluble pigment and an abundant gray aerial mycelium in milk, and exhibits a very slow pcptonization.

S. Iiv. of the invention also differs from S. inlermedius in that the latter exhibits a good growth of olive-green in cellulose, exhibits a folded growth of brown to greenish-brown in a potato medium and produces an olivegreen soluble pigment, and exhibits slow liquefaction in gelatin and produces a greenish-brown soluble pigment.

Except S. grisenlus, S. cellulosae and S. parvullus, the above-mentioned known strains do not produce an antibiotic substance.

Reference will now be made to fungi of the genus Streptomyces which produce antibiotic substances belonging to be aminocyclitol group. S. fradiae, according to Waksman, exhibits a thin, smooth, colorless, occasionally orange-yellow substrate growth on synthetic media, and forms an aerial mycelium which is light pink, seashell-pink or salmon-colored. These will dif ferentiate it from the S. liv. of the invention. Waksmans classification also indicates that S. albogriseolus exhibits a pink to reddish purple growth on a potato medium and the sporophores produce spirals. Consequently, it differs from the S. liv. S. rimosus f. paromomyceinus, S. chresrmyceticus, S. kanamycelicus and S. pulveraceus all exhibit a yellow or cream-colored to brown growth, and do not exhibit dark gray to dark blue or black growth as in S. liv.

Consequently, the Quintomycin-producing strain of the present invention has been identified as a novel strain belonging to the genus Streptomyees.

For the sake of reference, the details of microbiological properties of strains belonging to genus Streptomyces which will produce antibiotic substances belonging to the aminocyclitol group will be shown below under paragraphs (1) to (VI). The microbiological properties of strain belonging to other genera which will produce antibiotic substances belonging to the aminocyclitol group are also given under paragraphs (VII) and (VIII).

Antagonistic properties Morphology Glycerol-asparagine agar Calcium malate agar Nutrient agar Starch agar Potato agar Gelatin Milk Nitrate reduction positive Cellulose decomposition negative Milk coagulation negative Milk peptonization positive Hydrolysis of starch Gelatin liquefaction positive (limited) positive (slowly) Strain Antagonistic properties Morphology Glycerol Czapeks agar Glucose-asparagine agar Calcium malate agar Nutrient agar Potato agar Nitrate reduction Milk coagulation Milk peptonization Hydrolysis of starch Gelatin liquefaction llll] Strain Antagonistic properties Morphology Glucose-asparagine agar Malate glycerol agar Nutrient agar Starch media Potato agar Gelatin Litmus milk Nitrate reduction Cellulose decomposition Milk coagulation Milk peptonization Hydrolysis of starch Strain Antagonistic properties Morphology Nutrient agar Starch agar Milk Nitrate reduction Milk peptonization Hydrolysis of starch Gelatin liquefaction Streptomyces kanamycericus Kanamycin The aerial mycelium develops from the submerged mycelium on a few media and its branching is not profuse and it bears the sporophores at the end. Spirals and whorls are not observed in general.

G: colorless. later changed to lemon yellow A: white to yellow and occasionally bore greenish or faint pinkish tinge S: occasionally faint brown G: colorless to yellow with faint pinkish white scant. white. faint pinkish white. greenish yellow or yellow occasionally faint brown yellow white-yellow creamcolored absent or white none wrinkled. faint yellowish brown to yellow scant, white none positive doubtful doubtful positive positive Slreptomyces albogriaevlus Neomycin Sporophores monopodially branched, producing short, compact spirals, averaging 4 to 6 turns. Spores spherical or oval. covered with numerous long, line hairs A: white to ash-gray A: white to dark gray G: orange-colored ring positive positive positive positive Strain Antagonistic properties Morphology Glycerol Czapek s agar Glucose-asparagine agar Calcium malate agar Nutrient agar Starch agar Tyrosine agar Milk Nitrate reduction Cellulose decomposition Milk coagulation Milk peptonization Hydrolysis of starch Gelatin liquefaction Strain Antagonistic properties Morphology Glucose-asparagine agar Potato glucose agar Peptone glucose agar Tyrosinase Milk coagulation Milk peptonization Hydrolysis of starch Gelatin liquefaction [VII] Strain Antagonistic properties Morphology Glucose-asparagine agar Peptone glucose agar Nitrate reduction Gelatin liquefaction Strain Antagonistic properties Morphology Slrepmmyres pulverareus Zygomycin (identical with Paromomycin) Aerial mycelium generally develops well. The sporophore forms spiral and the spore is sphericalellipsoidal. The spiral adhering state.

colorless. later faint brown powdery, light drab to light grayish olive none orange to xanthin orange powdery. light grayish olive none or becoming ochraceous-bufl" yellow, penetrating into the medium none or scant. smoke gray none colorless, folded none none

colorless to yellow ocher, penetrating deep into the medium scant. light grayish olive none : colorless to faint brown light grayish olive none : colorless, surface growth brown positive (strong) negative negative positive positive positive S I re prom yces ch restom ycefirus Aminosidin (identical with Paromomycin) Aerial mycelium are generally strength. but observed rarely hooks or spirals G: yellow A: absent G: colorless A: scant white G: good, white or creamcolored A: abundant white negative (neutral) positive positive Micromonuspora purpurea Gentamicin No aerial mycelium, colony raised, convolute abundant growth, waxy. no diffusible pigment. Surface: terra cotta. Reverse: russet. Mycelium long, branched, regular, nonseptate, 0.54; in diameter. Sprorphores single. spores borne terminally. spores spherical to ellipsoidal. L0 in diameter.

G: fair, brite peach G: good, burgundy positive positive (weak) Micrumonuspora echinuspora Genlamicin No aerial mycelium, colony raised.

-Continued crenate-convolute good growth, waxy. slight amber difiusible pigment. Surface: deep red-brown. Reversezrusset. Mycelium long.

7.0 i 0.3. The period of culturing is usually at least 2 days. For instance, a period of 2 days to 2 weeks, or 2 days to 1 week, will suffice. If desired, culturing for a longer period is possible, but not necessary. When the branched. regular nonseptate. No 5 pl'OdUCtlOll Of Quintomycin in the culture broth is in a Gmcosemparagine agar 3 sufficient amount, preferably when it reaches almost a Peptone glucose agar 0: good. burgandy maximum, the culturing is stopped, and Quintomycin in the broth is recovered. The recovery can be effected either by a procedure in which the broth is adsorbed by The utilization of carbon sources of the abovean adsorbent and then eluted by a suitable eluting liqmentioned fungi except [IV] are shown below together uid or by a procedure in which solvent extraction is with the similar data for the novel S. lividus of the inmade by using a suitable solvent, the former being prefvention. erable. When the adsorbing and eluting procedure is Strep- SIreplomyces Streptomyces Micro- Micro- Slreplomyces Strepromyces tomyces Streptomyces rimosur f. chresmmonmpom monospora Iividus knnamyceticus fradiae pulvemceus pammomycinus mycericus purpurea echinospora L-Arabinose I i Rhamnose -ll- D-Xyrose -H- D-Glucose H -H- D-Galactose i H 4+ t D-Fructose d-i- D-Lactose -H- z 1 D-Maltose +i- -H- Sucrose Trchalose +4- D-Rafl'inose .H, Dextrin -ll 4-ilnulin Starch Dulcitol Glycerol -H- L-lnositol -H- H D-Mannitol -ll -ll- Sorbitol H z 4+ According to the invention, a process is provided for employed. a suitable adsorbent is added to the culture preparation of a novel and useful antibiotic substance, broth to adsorb the intended product sufficiently under which comprises culturing Szreptomyces Iividus or its stirring, for instance, and after the removal of waste mutant under aerobic conditions in a medium containbroth with mycelium, the adsorbent may be subjected ing at least a carbon source and a nitrogen source, and to the eluting operation. It is also possible to add an adrecovering Quintomycin from its culture broth. The 40 sorbent to the culture broth from which mycelium has culture medium ma contain an inor anic substance been removed b asuitable means such as filtration and y 8 I y (mineral) besides the carbon source and nitrogen centrifu al se aration and to follow the same roce- B P source. dure. Alternatively such mycehum-removed broth is Various substances known in the culturing art can be Passed threugh a collfmn Packed with a suitable adsorused as the carbon and nitrogen sources. Examples of bent, and subleeted P the Same P e the carbon source are starch, glucose, glycerol, malt- Sohd adsorbef" e adsorbs the mended ose, inositol, fructose, dextrin, sucrose and galactose. Product and 'P wheh'the Intended Pmduet e be As the nitrogen source, mention can be made ofa yeast eluted by a sfmable ehmng q y be e the extract, polypeptone, dry yeast, meat extract, cornabove adeol'bmg P -"P the use of eaflome steep liquor, soybean meal, inorganic nitrate and am- Changers P f l p y Preferable the use monium salt. of weakly acidlc cationic exchange resins. Specific ex- Examples of the mineral are sodium chloride p amples of the cationic exchangers are Amberlite lRC 50, Amberlite IRC 84. Amberlite CG 50 trademssmm hydrogenphosphme magnes'um sulphate names) and carboxymethyl cellulose Besides these g a fi fg f i": i g fi fi other solid adsorbents such as cellulose powder, actii' c zmc su p a e an Co a c vated carbon, alumina gel, silica gel and alumina/silica gel are usable.

The culturing can be carried out under aerobic con- A the eluting liquid, the use of aqueous solution of dltlOflS ElthGl' In a Solid culture medium 01'' a llquld meacids uch as inorganic and organic agids and aqueous dlum- It I preferable to effect the Culluflng a llqllld solutions of alkaline materials such as caustic alkalis, medium under aerobic conditions. In the liquid culturm i nd ammonium salts is preferable. ing under aerobic conditions, known antifoamers such Th id i l d i l id h as i d hm- 85 fluid Paraffin, fatty Oil and SiliCOrl can be u ric acid, sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid and a lower Th ulturing tempe ature iS a u 20 in 39C. aliphatic acids such as acetic aclQ and formic acid. it is preferably about 25 to 37C. It is advisable that the culturing should be carried out while the pH of the culture medium is adjusted to about 6.6 7.5, preferably advisable that these acids should Be used in the form of aqueous solutions having a concelltifatiti'r'i of about 0.1 l.0 N. Examples of the aboverfieli'tiohed alkaline materials are caustic soda, caustic potash, ammonia and ammonium formate. It is advisable that these alkaline materials should be used in concentrations of about 0.l 3.0 N. Of these, the use of mineral acids or aqueous ammonia is recommended.

The pH of the obtained eluate is, if desired, adjusted to a value in the vicinity of neutrality, and by removing the liquid content at the lowest possible temperature, the intended Quintomycin can be obtained as a solid powder. The removal of the liquid content can be effected by any of the various known means. For instance, such means as lyophilizing or spray drying are preferable. lf the operation is made at the lowest possible temperature, heating under reduced pressure can also be used. Alternatively a concentration-vacuum drying means may be employed under the conditions such as to form a stable salt like the hydrochloride and sodium salt. Furthermore, Quintomycin in the eluate can be made into a solid powder by extracting the eluate with a suitable extracting solvent, and removing the solvent at the lowest possible temperature.

When activated carbon is used as a solid adsorbent, an aqueous solution of the acid is used as an eluting liquid. In this case, acetone and lower aliphatic alcohols such as methanol and ethanol adjusted to a pH of less than 5, preferably less than 4 can be preferably used besides the above-exemplified acids.

When the recovery of Quintomycin from the culture broth is carried out by solvent extraction, higher fatty acids such as lauric acid and stearic acid are used as assistants. As the solvent, water-immiscible aliphatic alcohols are usable. Preferable alcohols are, for example, nor iso-butanol and amyl alcohol. An alcohol layer is separated by decantation or other known means of separation into two layers, and the alcohol is evaporated at the lowest possible temperature. As such means, spray drying is advantageously utilizable besides heating under reduced pressure.

It is preferable, as mentioned above, that Quintomycin of the present invention should be recovered by the adsorption and eluting procedure or solvent-extraction. As long as the Quintomycin in the culture broth is not substantially destroyed, any means of separating a solid material dissolved in a broth liquid can be employed.

The obtained novel antibiotic substance, Quintomycin is a white to white gray solid substance and can be used as an antibiotic substance in a wide range of fields as it is, or if desired, after having been refined by repeated application of the above-mentioned recovery means. If further desired, the obtained Quintomycin can be separated into four antibiotic substances. These antibiotic substances, as mentioned before, were named Quintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B, Quintomycin- C and Quintomycin-D. Quintomycin-A, Quintomycin- B and Quintomycin-D are novel substances. The Quintomycin of the invention consists predominantly of Quintomycin-B.

Means for separating the Quintomycin into these four substances will be described.

When the Quintomycin separated from the culture broth is again dissolved in water, or is eluted with an aqueous solution of an acid or an alkaline substance as mentioned above, it can be separated by chromatography into Quintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B, Quintomycin-C and Quintomycin-D while the pH of the eluting liquid is being maintained at 6.2 12 with or without adjustment.

Both cationic exchangers and anionic exchangers are suitable. For instance, with the use as a column ofa cationic exchanger, preferably weakly acidic cationic exchanger, such as Amherlite lRC 50. Amberlite lRC 84, Amberlite CG (tradenames), carboxymethly cellulose and CM-Sephadex (tradename), an aqueous solution of the Quintomycin adjusted to a pH of 6.2 12 is caused to be adsorbed by the column, followed by developing. Subsequently, with the use of aqueous ammonia or an aqueous solution of ammonium form-ate as an eluting liquid, the Quintomycin is separated by a gradient or stepwise method.

According to the gradient method, under the operating conditions given in Example 4 below, Quintomycin- A is eluted in sections 45 50; Quintomycin-B, in sections 53 58; Quintomycin-C, in sections 88 90; and thereafter, Quintomycin-D is eluted. According to the stepwise method, Quintomycin-A is first eluted by a 0.1 N aqueous ammonia, and then Quintomycin-B, by aqueous ammonia of the same normality. quintomycin- C is eluted by 21 (H5 N aqueous ammonia, and then Quintomycin-D, by a 0.3 N aqueous ammonia.

It is also possible to separate the Quintomycin by developing an aqueous solution of the Quintomycin with the use as a column of an anionic exchanger, preferably a strongly basic anionic exchanger, such as Dowex l X 2 OH type (tradename), Amterlite 400 (tradename), and then eluting it with water, whereby Quintomycin- D, Quintomycin-C, Quintomycin-B and Quintomycin- A are sequentially eluted.

Each of the separated components can be further refined by chromatography with the use of activated carbon, alumina or cellulose as a column and acetone or lower alcohol acidified with a mineral acid such as hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid and nitric acid or a lower aliphatic acid such as acetic acid as an eluting liquid. it can also be purified by converting it into its picrate or Reineckes salt, and changing it into a proper inorganic salt by a salt exchange means.

The novel antibiotic substance of the invention has novel and useful antibiotic activities as set out in the beginning of the specification. This will be detailed below.

I. Characteristics:

Quintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B and Quintomycin-D are basic substances. The free base, hydrochloride and sulphate of each of these substances are white amorphous powder.

2. Solubility:

Quintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B and Quintomycin- D, in their free base, hydrochloride and sulphate form, are soluble in water, an aqueous solution of caustic alkali, lower aliphatic acid and mineral acid. They are soluble in methyl alcohol in their free base form, but are very difficultly-soluble or insoluble in C, or higher aliphatic alcohols, ketones and ethers.

3. Color Reaction:

Quintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B and Quintomycin-D prove to be positive in Molisch reaction, Elson- Morgans reaction, Abderhaldens reaction (ninhydrin reaction) and Biles reaction: exhibit a deep red purple color in Tollens reaction (phloroglucine hydrochloride); and prove to be negative in Fehling reaction, Benedict reaction, Biuret reaction, Ehrlich reaction and Sakaguchi reaction.

Quintomycin-A and Quintomycin-B exhibit a purple color in Skatol reaction, but Quintomycin-D does not.

4. Stability:

Ouintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B and Quintomycin-D as their 1 N aqueous hydrochloric acid solution are unstable when heated to 100C. for 30 minutes, but are stable at room temperature. They are stable in their 1 N caustic soda aqueous solution both when heated to 100C. for 30 minutes and at room temperature.

5. R, value:

The R, value determined by an alumina thin-layer chromatography (R, values in the claims of the present application are determined by this method) with the use of upper layer of mixed solvent of chloroform/methanol/17% aqueous ammonia (volume ratio of 2:1:1) as a developing liquid is 0.23 for Quintomycin-A, 0.50 for Quintomycin-B and 0.75 for Quintomycin-D. Some known antibiotic substances have the following R, values as determined by the above procedure. Kanamycin (product of Strepromyces kanamyceticus). 0.75 Paromomycin (product of Streptomyces rimosus f. paromomycinus), 0.70; Neomycin (product of Streptomyces fradiae or Streptomyces albogriseolus), 0.74; and

Gentamicin (product of Micromonospora echinospora), 0.81.

The R, value determined by a paperchromatography with the use of a methanol/3 NaCl aqueous solution (volume ratio of 2: 1) as a developing liquid and Toyo Filter Pater No. 51A (product of Toyo Filter Paper Co., Ltd, Japan) is 0.25 for Quintomycin-A. and 0.27 for Quintomycin-B. The R, values determined by this procedure of some known antibiotic substances are as follows: Kanamycin, 0.36; Paromomycin, 0.31; Neomycin, 0.20; and Gentamiein, 0.53.

6. Ultraviolet rays absorption spectra:

None of Quintomycin-A, -B and -D exhibit a characteristic absorption at the long wave length of from 250 7. Infra-red rays absorption spectra:

The infra-red absorption spectra of Quintomycin-A, -B and -D pelletized in potassium bromide are shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

Other properties of the antibiotic substances of the invention are shown in the following Table together with those of other known antibiotic substances.

Table l Name of Antibiotic Quintomycin-A Ouintomycin-B substance Quintomycin-C Quintomycin-D Produced by S. lividus S. Iividus S. livid: S. lividus Melting point (M.P.) (Free) 197-203 (Free) 197-203 (Free) 178-184 "C (dec) (HC1) 195 (HC1) 190 (HC1)203 (-HC1) 203 1411,, (HC1) [a],,=59 (HC1) [a],, =49 (same as the (HCl) {u],,=35.8

paromomycin) (c=1. H O) (c=1. H O) (c=0.5. H,O) MOleQuldr sv ss s n u r-s s m zs as s u za u s ra formula Molecular weight (M.W.) 777.77 761.77 615.63 599.63 Analysis (9%) c. f. c. 1'. c. f.

C:44.77 C:45.16 045.72 046.23 (same as the C:46.07 C:46.40 H: 7.07 H: 7.05 H1722 H: 7.70 paromomycin) H: 7.56 H: 7.59 N190] N: 8.73 N:9.l9 N1914 N:l1.68 N:1l.33 (Components of the substance) Mannose (same as the Ribose paromomycin) Deoxystreptaminc Monoaminosugar Diaminosugar Table (1a) Name of Antibiotic Kanamycin-A Kanamycin-B Kanamycin-C substance Produced by Melting point (M.P.)

"C (dec) l/1+ Molecular formula Molecular weight (M.W.) Analysis (71) S .kanam yzeu'cus (Free) 263-268 C Ii 311 4 1! S .kanam ycericur (Free) 170-190 c. C:44.8O H: 7.51 N:l4.72

S.kanamycericus (Free) ca. 270

ln ae q ii Table (4a) Name of Antibiotic Paromornycin-l Paromomycin-ll substance Gentamicin complex Produced by S. rimosus f.

pammomycinus S. rimosusf. paromom ycinu: M.P.

"C (dec.) l lm l lu"= (c=l. H,0) amm n Molecular Formula M W Analysis C:44.87 H: 7.37 N:l 1.38 (Components of the substance) Mannose Rihose Deoxystreptamine Monoaminosugar Diaminosugar (Biol. activity M.l.C. meg/ml.) Staph. aureus 209p S. cilreu: l. S. albus NM oc Micromonm-pora echinospora Micmmonorpora purpurea Table Name of Antibiotic substance Neomycin-A Neomycin-B Neomycin-C Paromomycin-l Paromomycin-ll Gentamicin complex 220 Framyeetin Streptothricin Streptoth ricin B 423 Aminosidin, Catenulin, Hydtoxymycin. Zygomycin The invention will be described further below by means of Examples.

EXAMPLE 1 Streptomyces Iividus (Streptomyces No. 2230-N,) strain was fermented in a medium sterilized and adjusted to a pH of 7.0 which consisted of 0.5% of starch, 2.0% of soybean meal, 0.1% of dipotassium hydrogenphosphate, 0.05% of magnesium sulphate and 0.3% of sodium chloride. and was pre-cultured at 27C. for about 50 hours. Subsequently, l00- I50 ml. of the preculture broth were added to liters of the same culture medium and culturing was effected at 27C. with stirring at a rate of 250 rpm while passing sterilized air at a rate of i0 liters/min. ln forty hours, the pH of the culture broth was 7.2 7.4, and the production of Quintomycin (No. 2230 substance) reached a maximum. The culture broth was filtered with the use of Celite as a filtering assistant to give 9.2 liters of a culture filtrate. The filtrating broth was stirred for 10 minutes together with 300 ml. of Amberlite lRC 5O (tradename) (type H) resin, when the effective components were completely adsorbed by the resin. The resin was packed into a column, and washed thoroughly with water. Ouintomycin was recovered by elution with a 0.5 N hydrochloric acid. The effective components were collected, and neutralized with a 10 N caustic soda to adjust the pH to 7.6 7.8. They were caused to be adsorbed by a column packed with ID g of activated carbon for the purpose of purifying, washed with 0.01% of aqueous ammonia and then with water, and eluted with a 0.02 N hydrochloric acid/methanol l: l Methanol was removed by distillation under reduced pressure. Subsequent lyophilizing gave Quintomycin- A, Quintomycin-B, Quintomycin-C and Quintomycin- D complex hydrochloride in l g yield.

EXAMPLE 2 The pH of IO liters of the culture broth prepared in the same manner as in Example I was adjusted to 7.0, and the culture broth was extracted twice with 10 liters of iso-butanol containing 5% lauric acid. The isobutanol layer was dissolved in an aqueous solution hydrochlot'ic acid having pH of 2.0 and neutralized with caustic soda, followed by concentration under reduced pressure and lyophilizing. Thus there was obtained 200g of crude powder of Quintomycin complex.

EXAMPLE 3 A culture broth obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 was passed through Amberlite [RC 50 (tradename) (type NH resin packed into a column, and the effective components were adsorbed completely by the resin. The resin was thoroughly washed with water, and eluted with a 1.0 N aqueous ammonia to separate effective components. These effective components were collected and treated with a 2N hydrochloric acid to adjust their pH to 6- 7.8. Purification was effected by following the same procedure as in Example l.

EXAMPLE 4 Streptomyces Iividus strain was fermented in a medium sterilized and adjusted to a pH of 6.8 which consisted of 0.5% of starch, 0.05% of glucose, 2.0% of soybean meal, 0.2% of peptone, 0.05% of magnesium sulphate, 0.l% of dipotassium hydgrogenphosphate and 0.3% of sodium chloride, and was pre-cultured at 35C. for about 50 hours. Subsequently, 300 400 ml. of the preculture broth were added to 10 liters of the same medium, and culturing was effected at 35C. with stirring at a rate of 200 rpm while passing sterilized air at a rate of i4 liter/min. In 96 hours, the pH of the culture broth was 7.8 8.2, and the production of Quintomycin reached a maximum. The culture broth was stirred for 10 minutes together with I ml. ofa weakly acidic ion exchange resin, Amberlite lRC 84 (tradename) (NH, type,) when the effective components were completely adsorbed by the resin. After removal of the mycelium and waste broth by fractional filtration, the resin having adsorbed therein effective components was packed into a column, and was thoroughly washed with water, followed by elution with a 2.0 N aqueous ammonia. Effective components were collected and concentrated. They were adsorbed into a column having a size of 30 X 2400 mm and packed with a weakly acidic cationic exchange resin for use in chromatography. Elution with a 0.] N aqueous ammonia after eluting a pigment portion with a 0.08 N aqueous ammonia yielded Quintomycin-A, and Ouintomycin-B after the end of elution of Quintomycin-A. Elution with a 0.15 N aqueous ammonia after the elution of Quintomycin-B led to the elution of Quintomycin-C. When elution with a 0.3 N aqueous ammonia was effected after the elution of Quintomycin-C, Quintomycin-D came out.

Concentrating and lyophilizing procedures gave pure Ouintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B, Quintomycin-C and Quintomycin-D as free bases in yields of 650 mg, 4200 mg, 40 mg, and [20 mg, respectively.

EXAMPLE One hundred and fifty milligrams of Quintomycin complex obtained in Example 1 or 2 were dissolved into about 40 ml. of distilled water, and the solution was adsorbed into a column having a diameter of 1 cm packed with 30 ml. of carboxyrnethyl Sephadex C-25 (tradename) (type NH followed by water-washing. With the use of 200 ml. of a 0.05 N aqueous ammonia and 200 ml. of a 1.0 N aqueous ammonia, elution was effected by a gradient method at a rate of 25 ml./hr. The eluate was recovered successively in sections each amounting to 4 ml. Quintomycin-A was eluted in sections Quintomycin-B. in sections 53 58; and Quintomycin-C, in sections 88 90. Continuing the elution with aqueous ammonia having a concentration of 1.0 or more resulted in the elution of Quintomycin- D. Lyophilizing procedure gave pure Quintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B, Quintomycin-C and Quintomycin-D as free bases in yields of 3] mg, 49 mg, trace and I8 mg, respectively.

EXAMPLE 6 One hundred and fifty grams of Quintomycin complex obtained in Example I or 2 were dissolved into 40 ml. of distilled water, and the solution was adsorbed by a column with a diameter of 1 cm packed with 30 ml. of carboxymethyl Sephadex C-25 (tradename) (type NH buffered with ammonium formate, followed by water-washing. With the use of 200 ml. of 0.5 mol ammonium formate solution and 200 ml. of 3.0 mol ammonium formate solution, elution was effected by a gradient method at a rate of 25 ml./hr. The eluate was recovered successively in sections each amounting to 3 ml. Quintomycin-A was eluted in sections 29 37; Quintomycin-B, in sections 40 45; and Quintomycin- C, in sections 78 80. Continuing the elution with 3.0 mol ammonium formate solution resulted in the elution of Quintomycin-D. Lyophilizing procedure gave pure Quintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B, Quintomycin-C and Quintomycin-D as free bases in yields of 35mg, 56 mg, trace and 19 mg, respectively.

EXAMPLE 7 One hundred and fifty grams of Quintomycin complex obtained in Example I or 2 was dissolved into 40 ml. of distilled water. The solution was adjusted to a pH of 7.0 with a 0.l N aqueous ammonia, and adsorbed completely by 20 ml. of Amberlite CG 50 (tradename) (type NH packed into a column having a diameter of l cm. With the use of 200 ml. of a 0.02 N aqueous ammonia and 200 ml. of a 1.0 N aqueous ammonia, elution was effected by a gradient method at a rate of 25 mL/hr. The eluate was recovered successively in sections each amounting to 3 ml. Quintomycin-A was eluted in sections 29 35; Quintomycin-B in sections 40 50 and Quintomycin-C, in sections 88 92. Continuing the elution with a 1.0 N aqueous ammonia resulted in the elution of Quintomycin-D. Lyophilizing procedure gave pure Quintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B, Quintomycin-C and Quintomycin-D as free bases in yields of 33 mg, 52 mg, trace and 16 mg, respectively.

EXAMPLE 8 Free bases of Quintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B, Quintomycin-C and Quintomycin-D obtained in Example 3 were each dissolved into methanol. Addition of a 2 N sulphuric acid to the resulting methanol solution led to the precipitation of a sulphate of each Quintomycin. The precipitate was thoroughly washed with methanol acetone, and a pure sulphate of each Quintomycin was obtained.

Free bases of the Quintomycin-A. Quintomycin-B, Quintomycin-C and Quintomycin-D were dissolved into methanol and acidified with a 2 N hydrochloric acid. Addition of acetone to each of the resulting methanol solution led to the precipitation of a hydrochloride of each Quintomycin. The precipitate was washed thoroughly with acetone ether, and a pure pentahydrochloride of each Quintomycin was obtained.

We claim:

1. A process for preparation of antibiotic Quintomycin, which comprises culturing Strepmmyces Iividus or its mutant under aerobic conditions in a medium containing a carbon source and a nitrogen source, and recovering antibiotic Quintomycin from the culture broth.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said medium contains a mineral substance in addition to said carbon and nitrogen sources.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein said mineral sub stance is a member selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, dipotassiumhydrogen phosphate, magnesium sulfate, iron sulfate, calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, iron chloride, zinc sulfate and cobalt chloride.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the culturing termperature is 39C.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the pH of the culture medium is 6.6 7.5.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the culturing is effected for a period of 2 days to 2 weeks.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the carbon source is a member selected from the group consisting of starch, glucose, glycerol, maltose, inositol, fructose, dextrin, sucrose and galactose.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the nitrogen source is a member selected from yeast extract, polypeptone, dry yeast, meat extract, cornsteep liquor, soybean meal, inorganic nitrates and ammonium salts.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the recovery is carried out by adsorption and elution.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein said adsorption is carried out by a cationic exchanger and said elution is carried out by an aqueous solution of a substance selected from the group consisting of mineral acids, lower alkanoic acids and an alkaline substance selected from caustic alkali, ammonia, and ammonium salts.

ll. The process of claim 10 wherein said cationic exchanger is selected from the group consisting of weakly acidic cationic exchange resins and carboxymethyl cellulose.

12. The process of claim 9 wherein said adsorption is carried out by activated carbon and said elution is carried out by a liquid selected from the group consisting of aqueous solutions of mineral acids, lower alkanoic acids, acidic lower aliphic alcohols and acidic acetone.

13. The process of claim 1 wherein the recovery is carried out by solvent extraction.

14. The process of claim 13 wherein said solvent extraction is carried out with the use of a waterimmiscible aliphatic alcohol as a solvent.

15. The process of claim 14 wherein said aliphatic alcohol is a member selected from the group consisting of n-butanol, isobutanol and amyl alcohol.

16. The process of claim 1 wherein the obtained Quintomycin is adsorbed by a cationic exchange resin and eluted with an aqueous solution of an alkaline substance selected from caustic alkali, ammonia and ammonium salts, thereby recovering at least one of Quintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B, Quintomycin-C and Quintomycin-D.

17. The process of claim 1 wherein the obtained Quintomycin is adsorbed by an anionic exchange resin and eluted with water, thereby recovering at least one of Quintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B, Quintomycin-C and Quintomycin-D.

18. The process of claim 1 wherein the culturing temperature is 25 37C.

19. The process of claim 1 wherein the pH of the culture medium is 7.0 i 0.3. 

1. A PROCESS FOR PREPARATION OF ANTIBIOTIC QUINTOMYCIN, WHICH COMPRISES CULTURING STREPTOMYCES LIVIDUS OR ITS MUTANT UNDER AEROBIC CONDITIONS IN A MEDIUM CONTAINING A CARBON SOURCE AND A NITROGEN SOURCE, AND RECOVERING ANTIBIOTIC QUINTOMYCIN FROM THE CULTURE BROTH.
 2. The process of claim 1 wherein said medium contains a mineral substance in addition to said carbon and nitrogen sources.
 3. The process of claim 2 wherein said mineral substance is a member selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, dipotassiumhydrogen phosphate, magnesium sulfate, iron sulfate, calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, iron chloride, zinc sulfate and cobalt chloride.
 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the culturing termperature is 20* - 39*C.
 5. The process of claim 1 wherein the pH of the culture medium is 6.6 - 7.5.
 6. The process of claim 1 wherein the culturing is effected for a period of 2 days to 2 weeks.
 7. The process of claim 1 wherein the carbon source is a member selected from the group consisting of starch, glucose, glycerol, maltose, inositol, fructose, dextrin, sucrose and galactose.
 8. The process of claim 1 wherein the nitrogen source is a member selected from yeast extract, polypeptone, dry yeast, meat extract, cornsteep liquor, soybean meal, inorganic nitrates and ammonium salts.
 9. The process of claim 1 wherein the recovery is carried out by adsorption and elution.
 10. The process of claim 9 wherein said adsorption is carried out by a cationic exchanger and said elution is carried out by an aqueous solution of a substance selected from the group consisting of mineral acids, lower alkanoic acids and an alkaline substance selected from caustic alkali, ammonia, and ammonium salts.
 11. The process of claim 10 wherein said cationic exchanger is selected from the group consisting of weakly acidic cationic exchange resins and carboxymethyl cellulose.
 12. The process of claim 9 wherein said adsorption is carried out by activated carbon and said elution is carried out by a liquid selected from the group consisting of aqueous solutions of mineral acids, lower alkanoic acids, acidic lower aliphic alcohols and acidic acetone.
 13. The process of claim 1 wherein the recovery is carried out by solvent extraction.
 14. The process of claim 13 wherein said solvent extraction is carried out with the use of a water-immiscible aliphatic alcohol as a solvent.
 15. The process of claim 14 wherein said aliphatic alcohol is a member selected from the group consisting of n-butanol, isobutanol and amyl alcohol.
 16. The process of claim 1 wherein the obtained Quintomycin is adsorbed by a cationic exchange resin and eluted with an aqueous solution of an alkaline substance selected from caustic alkali, ammonia and ammonium salts, thereby recovering at least one of Quintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B, Quintomycin-C and Quintomycin-D.
 17. The process of claim 1 wherein the obtained Quintomycin is adsorbed by an anionic exchange resin and eluted with water, thereby recovering at least one of Quintomycin-A, Quintomycin-B, Quintomycin-C and Quintomycin-D.
 18. The process of claim 1 wherein the culturing temperature is 25 * - 37*C.
 19. The process of claim 1 wherein the pH of the culture medium is 7.0 + or - 0.3. 